The New Orleans Saints appear to be getting some inadvertent spiritually directed help from Pope Francis.
The pontiff has been accidentally posting on social media about religious matters and adding the hashtag #Saints – the official hashtag for the National Football League team, which on X automatically adds the team’s logo of a fleur-de-lis.
Among various messages, on 5 November he posted, “The #Saints⚜️ are precious pearls and are always living and relevant, because they provide a fascinating commentary on the Gospel. Their lives are an illustration of the Good News that Jesus brought to humanity.”
The team reposted the message and thanked Pope Francis for his prayers, adding: “We need them.”
We cannot become #Saints with a frown. We must have joyful hearts that remain open to hope.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) November 7, 2024
And on 7 November the pope wrote: “We cannot become #Saints⚜️ with a frown. We must have joyful hearts that remain open to hope.” To that, the team reposted, “Amen #Saints.”
The Saints are having a slow start to the season, and were sitting in fourth, and last, place in the NFC South. A significant number of injuries have struck among wide receivers and the offensive line, and last week head coach Dennis Allen was fired. But there are signs the Pope’s prayers could be working: on Sunday the Saints won for the first time since September, holding on for a narrow win over the Atlanta Falcons.
